Sunil Narine played his 200th IPL game. (AP Photo)

Sunil Narine, the greatest player in IPL history: Ambati Rayudu makes bold claim

Ambati Rayudu called Sunil Narine the greatest player in IPL history after KKR's win over Gujarat Titans. Sanjay Bangar backed the view as Narine marked his 200th match with another decisive spell.

17 May 2026, 09:06 by Amar Sunil Panicker · India Today

In Short

Rayudu crowns Narine the IPL’s greatest ever
Sanjay Bangar praised Narine for reinventing his bowling action
Narine starred with 2/29 in landmark 200th IPL appearance as KKR beat GT

While Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni dominate the popularity charts, former India batter Ambati Rayudu believes the conversation around the greatest IPL player of all time belongs to someone else. Following Kolkata Knight Riders’ high-stakes victory over Gujarat Titans, Rayudu bypassed the league’s most celebrated icons to crown Sunil Narine as the undisputed number one.

Speaking on ESPNcricinfo, Rayudu delivered an emphatic verdict on the West Indian’s legacy, highlighting his unmatched value as a genuine two-way player.

"Best IPL player according to me, all time," Rayudu said. "Match-winner with the ball, with the bat. I don't think there have been such great players in the IPL, but this guy always stands out. He’s right at the top of the list for me."

Overcoming controversy to achieve greatness

Former India coach Sanjay Bangar strongly backed Rayudu’s claim, placing Narine firmly in his all-time top five. Bangar praised the KKR star’s resilience, pointing out how he rebuilt his bowling craft after his action was questioned multiple times during his career.

"He had to overcome a lot of problems in terms of how his action was questioned," Bangar said. "But he found another way of delivering while retaining the ability to get the ball turning both ways. That puts massive doubt in the batter’s mind. Those qualities make him a legend."

Landmark 200th match keeps KKR alive

The praise arrived at the perfect moment, with Narine featuring in his landmark 200th IPL match for KKR in a must-win clash.

Batting first, KKR posted a season-best 247 for 2. Opener Finn Allen lit up the ground with a blistering 93 off just 35 balls, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi (82*) and Cameron Green (52*) added an unbeaten 108-run partnership to finish the innings in dominant fashion.

In reply, Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill launched a brilliant counter-attack, smashing 85 to keep his side in contention. However, it was Narine who broke the game open. The veteran spinner outfoxed the dangerous Gill, enticing him into a false shot on his way to figures of 2 for 29.

Despite fighting half-centuries from Jos Buttler (57) and Sai Sudharsan (53*), GT finished on 218 for 4. The 29-run victory keeps KKR’s slender play-off hopes alive, proving that even after 200 matches, Sunil Narine remains one of the IPL’s ultimate match-winners.

- Ends